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Tuesday, March 11, 2014

A Startling Reality: Stories Left Untold Forever

We at the C.V. Starr Center have been incredibly fortunate
to have interviewed many of our nation’s greatest heroes, all thanks to the
amazing work of our liaison at the Heron Point Retirement Community in
Chestertown, Maryland. Their stories, now preserved, will be serving as a
wealth of information for generations to come. While we will—one day—pass on to
the next world, the first-hand accounts of one of our country’s most trying
times will be forever available to scholars decades into the future.

Just a few weeks ago, Rachel, Alex, and I were informed of
some startling news: since the beginning of our interview process, six of the
potential WWII candidates lined up to be interviewed had sadly passed away.

We
were stunned. In a span of five to seven months, we had lost half a dozen
stories to the ages.

While some of our departed heroes may have shared of their
struggles, triumphs, and experiences with family or friends, many may have
decided to do as those of their generation have done for many years: they could
have refrained from telling with those who did not share in the conflict. This
should not seem as though such veterans were holding back from the world, many
heroes decided to keep the burdens of their service to themselves, so as not to
upset those they loved. In a way, they didn’t
want to put their struggles off on anyone else; they saw it as part of their
service to preserve the strength and safety of their family and friends, and not
to worry them. In many other aspects, some may not have seen their own stories
as all too important. Clearly, this represents a sincere humility on their part.

That being said, the reality remains the same. For about six
or so individuals, we will never be able to share their stories with the world.
We will never be able to preserve their experiences of WWII with future
generations to come. In losing those six accounts, we have lost forever six
different and completely unique experiences of American history. Who knows what
could have been uncovered, revealed to all those who revere American history
for what it has to teach us.

There will soon come a time when not a single person will be
left from some of America’s most defining points in history. As a student of
history, and with a sincere appreciation for American values, I believe that
for any American citizen, it is our obligation to preserve as much as we can
about the roads which have come before us. Without knowing where we have been,
we will never truly know where we are going.

In moving forward with our Veterans History Project, I truly
believe that each of us will continue our work knowing full well that time is
fleeting. These golden opportunities to record the history of American Heroes are
not to be taken for granted.

My final thoughts on this matter are for you. If you have
anyone close to you who has a story to share about their service, or any other
type of story for that matter, I would strongly suggest sitting down one day to
hear it. That opportunity may not be around much longer.